BOSTON, April 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today nearly 5,000 local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends and community partners will "make change happen" as they volunteer to improve 42 sites across Massachusetts as part of the 16th annual Comcast Cares Day.

Comcast Cares Day is more than just a day – it's the culmination of Comcast NBCUniversal's commitment to volunteerism that began when the company was founded more than 50 years ago. From using technology to create positive change, such as wiring community centers and libraries and teaching digital literacy skills, to mentoring youth, to beautifying parks, Comcast NBCUniversal employees volunteer on this day, and throughout the year, to make a lasting impact. This year, the Company expects more than 100,000 volunteers to participate in approximately 900 projects across the country and around the world. To date, volunteers have contributed nearly 5 million volunteer hours at 7,700 projects since Comcast Cares Day began in 2001.

"As we celebrate our 16th annual Comcast Cares Day, we are so proud to beautify some deserving partner locations and to give back in our community," said Tracy Pitcher, Senior Vice President of Comcast's Greater Boston Region. "It's truly amazing what's possible when 5,000 volunteers donate their time to make a difference in the lives of others. I'm inspired by the community's response to Comcast Cares Day, and am so thankful for the participants who help to make this effort a success today and throughout the year."

"Comcast NBCUniversal has shown extraordinary commitment to its community partners over the past 16 years with Comcast Cares Day," said Sandra Lopez Burke, Vice President and Executive Director, City Year Boston. "Events like this help revitalize spaces to reflect the type of bright, caring environment we want our students to grow up in. This year, it is especially meaningful to serve our students at the Burke High School and we're grateful to all volunteers and Comcast for their continued partnership."

The Comcast Foundation will also provide grants to local community partner organizations across the country on behalf of everyone who volunteers on Comcast Cares Day. The grants will help Comcast's community partners continue their mission of serving the community throughout the year. To date, the Comcast Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to local non-profit organizations who have served as partners on Comcast Cares Day.

2017 Comcast Cares Day sites in Massachusetts include:

Dorchester – volunteers will landscape, plant flowers and paint murals at The Burke and Up Academy

Framingham – volunteers will help with a spring clean-up and beautification project, including painting, landscaping, cleaning and creating décor items

Lawrence – volunteers in partnership with Groundwork Lawrence will clean and landscape across the Commons and 30 other sites in downtown Lawrence

Middleton – volunteers will landscape and help get Camp Creighton ready for the busy summer season

Plymouth – volunteers will build new garden beds and landscape at the Nathan Hale Foundation's Three Harts Farm

Additionally, Comcast will once again fold in the broad support and amplification of Global Citizen and Red Nose Day, organizations aiming to end extreme poverty globally and in the United States. These organizations use the universal language of music and entertainment as a vehicle to engage people around the world to make a difference. By amplifying our support of these initiatives on Comcast Cares Day, Comcast NBCUniversal is providing additional ways to help drive positive change in our communities.

For more information on Comcast NBCUniversal volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit www.comcast.com/community.

About Comcast CorporationComcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About the Comcast FoundationThe Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified nonprofit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—expanding digital literacy, promoting community service, and building tomorrow's leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $195 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.